Engraved Colt Single Action Army revolver
This report covers:
- Engraved?
- BB and pellet
- Safety
- Realistic
- Grip
- Summary
Today we look at a very special Colt Single Action Army (SAA) revolver. This one is engraved! And this particular one is also the first engraved SAA ever produced, as designated by the serial number one. There are many numbers before the number one because this revolver was taken from the inventory of Colt SAAs and sent off to be engraved.
Engraved?
These days getting a revolver engraved is a costly undertaking — both because of the man-hours involved and because engravers are highly skilled and can charge for their work. This revolver was engraved by machine. I’ll let you be the judge of whether the engraving looks nice, but my neighbor, Denny, liked it so much he made a walnut plaque for it to hang on my living room wall. And everyone who sees it for the first time assumes it’s a firearm.
This model was a special edition that was for sale for a couple years. I think around 250 were engraved and sold for $100 above the standard retail price.
BB and pellet
These Colt SAAs from Umarex shoot both BBs and pellets. The BBs are loaded in the base of the six removable cartridges and pellets can be loaded into the front — though not at the same time, obviously. The revolver is powered by a 12-gram CO2 cartridge stored inside the grip.
Safety
This revolver has a safety, so Agatha Christie was a prophetess! Push forward to shoot and pull back for safe.
Safety slides back and forth. In this picture that’s left and right.
Realistic
To be perfectly clear, this revolver is an actual Colt. It was made in the Orient under license by Colt. So it is not a replica, strictly speaking, though we will refer to it that way.
The action is very realistic! The hammer cocks the revolver and advances the cylinder to the next cartridge. The loading gate on the right side works as it should. The cylinder revolves correctly (clockwise from the shooter’s perspective) and at half cock the cylinder is free to rotate.
The ejector rod does extract each shell, though the chambers do not align when the cylinder is turned. It takes a slight bit more rotation to align each chamber. But the cartridges are free to fall out when the muzzle is raised.
The weight of the airgun is also quite realistic. It tips the scale at slightly under two pounds/907 G.
Grip
The grip is one place where the realism falls off, but many shooters won’t notice it. The grip of all Umarex Colt Single Action revolvers is about a half-inch longer than a genuine Colt SAA grip. Umarex used the grip from the 1860 Colt Army black powder revolver to accommodate the 12-gram CO2 cartridge.
The cylinder also does not come out of the revolver easily, so that’s another place that’s not realistic. But since the cylinder never needs cleaning like a firearm cylinder would, it doesn’t harm the operation.
Colt SAA, right.
Summary
We’re going to finally look at an air pistol and it’s one I know several of you crave. Let me know some things to test.
This beauty made me, once again, think about the 1860 I dream of; exact in everything but the bored through 22 cal cylinder. A pellet inserted in the “nipple” and exiting from the barrel at around 500 fps. Oh well its early in the morning and I can keep dreaming.
Not authentic, but Pietta makes some SAA clones with an 1860 grip frame.
Makes you wonder if we’re going to be seeing more “art” type airgun models?
Tom,
It sure looks pretty deserving of a good display case.
Siraniko
PS Section Summary 1st sentence: “We’re going to finally look at an air pistol and it’s one I know several of you gave (crave?).”
Siraniko.
I have no clue what I was trying to say there. I’ll go with what you suggested because it sounds good.
Thanks,
BB
I would have guessed “have,” but “crave” works better for me, personally. :o)
RG,
Oh, they “crave” them alright.
Tom,
I remember your pistol well. If you recall I tried to talk you out of it with a replacement or have you leave it to me in your will 😉
I have Serial No. 002 and 26. But if I remember correctly Edith was instrumental in acquiring it for you as a gift.
Cut that request off in a heartbeat. A “Till death do us part” cherished airgun.
I started off with the US Marshal version. Believe it was the first? for me anyway. I remember questioning why a weathered replica had a very bright plastic grip? Totally out of place. Then dull finished grips hit the market. More much ‘gooder’.
I believe I have about 20 of these in all the variations, mostly in pairs, except for one that I believe was a limited custom not advertised much. Another web site. Never found it till it was gone. And I also had to return a pair of fully custom engraved ones that came in a display box that a new engraver took on and must have forgot it was a soft, plated metal air pistol and hammered the outer barrels lose when he engraved it also cutting into the copper? base. Ended up ‘painting’ them for sale. Not so pretty good. Even smelled bad.
Believe that put an end to the engraving experience. Caused some bad feelings with the engraver. They were costly returns. Too bad, wish they did a P08 Luger. And now the Barra 1886 Co2 Cowboy lever action would be a perfect candidate for some “Light” engraving.
Not sure but I believe I have SN1 on another version, Surprised me.
Bob M, Umarex did make a P08 replica – FM had to have one; that and the bb-shooting MP40. Thought they were still being made.
FM,
I already have a couple PO8′ airguns. semi, white grip full-autos, and a nice Airsoft silver 6″ Artillery version with a drum mag, but I was talking about an engraved one. Would be a nice if they engraver one.
The Colt Single-Action Army is one of the ten guns that the late Chris Kyle wrote about in his very interesting book “American Gun: A history of the U.S. in ten firearms” In the appendix he says it was used by “everyone from Teddy Roosevelt to George C. Patton, Pat Garrett to Buffalo Bill Cody.”
I hope you will show us a photo of the gun on the walnut plaque that Denny made for you. Woodworking is one of my hobbies. 🙂
Elmer,
Here you go.
BB
Thanks BB, looks great!
Now, I would not mind having the lower one.
BB, that’s a couple of real beauties you’ve got there! 😉
BB,
Not really my cup of tea, but for some reason I do want a Webley and a Nagant pellet pusher, so maybe some of these replica CO2 pistols just might come to live at RRHFWA.
Different… well done, but not to my tastes.
Engravers are truly skilled artisans whose work is challenged by technology because machine engraving (and carving) is not as costly or difficult to setup as it used to be.
With the 3D scanners, software, printers, and CNC machines available today, you could setup everything needed to do the engraving in your garage and pay off the whole investment with the first 100 units delivered.
We live in interesting times.
Hank
Hank,
This is not really to my taste either, although I do happen to have a very old air rifle (late 1800s) that has a considerable amount of engraving. Some engraving can be done tastefully. Most tends to be what I would consider “over the top”.
To each his/her own I guess.
I really enjoy mine, non engraved of course. Mine was marketed as a pellet pistol but of course will shoot BBs. It is the nickel with brown grips and silver medallion. I kind of wish I had popped for the Duke weathered version to more closely match my 1873 powder burner, but it is a pretty gun for sure.
My testing was done indoors at 5 meters with pellets and for groups, 6 shots per group, shot seated freehand, no rest. I have not tested BBs in it yet.
0.359″ RWS Meisterkugelns 8.2gr
0.471″ H&N Excite II Wadcutters 7.4gr
0.503″ RWS Basics 7.0gr
0.593″ Crosman Hollow Points 7.9gr
0.594″ Daisy Precision Wadcutters 7.8gr
0.793″ RWS Hobbys 7.0gr
0.849″ Crosman Competition Wadcutters 7.4gr
1.014″ Crosman Destroyers 7.4gr
Fun gun to shoot for sure! As for the engraved version here, personally, I like it for the most part considering what it is but the cheesy lazy crosshatch pattern and of course the prolific warnings let it down considerably.
Bob
Bob, from what I remember the engraving on these airguns was copied from traditional patterns used on real Colt SAA firearms. Toms here has quite a bit of engraving. Just about full coverage.
They issued some with less coverage and they more or less complemented the contours of the pistol with engraved highlights. It can be overdone and almost obscure the pistol. I think they tried to put something on all the traditional places here. I prefer the highlighted areas only myself.
Some firearms were totally covered to display the engravers’ ability and impress people as presentation pistols but they most likely stayed in their presentation case.
Bob,
Your abbreviated list of pellets vs accuracy…. so simple and informative. Now why didn’t I think of that? That is something everyone could do.
And kudos for shooting anything under 1/2″ freehand!! Now you’re going to make me practice…